LOCAL greyhound racing industry participants and staff have unanimously turned their backs on the ACT government’s transition taskforce, preferring to go legal first. 

has written to the chair of the ACT government’s Greyhound Industry Transition Taskforce, Leesa Croke, to say the industry has resolved to fight against proposals to end greyhound racing in Canberra. 

“No one from the CGRC or local industry will attend any transition meeting or taskforce event,” he writes.  

“The ACT industry members will reject any offers of transition and, instead, we will fight any proposed ban in the courts if necessary.” 

Preceding a long explanation of the CGRC’s position and the industry’s decision not engage with the Greyhound Industry Transition, Mr Tutt says their decision is based on their desire to fight for survival.

“The ACT industry has an unblemished 38 year animal welfare and integrity record. The proposed ban will cost around 50 local jobs and see more than $2 million lost from the economy,” he writes. 

“The Chief Minister announced there would be ‘no future’ for ACT greyhound racing in a knee jerk way on July 7, 2016 when the NSW Premier released the now deeply discredited McHugh Report into NSW greyhound racing. 

“The McHugh Report did not consider the ACT industry or make findings about us. The Chief Minister used social media to announce his position while overseas and without any consultation, and without actually reading the NSW document.

 “This is, quite simply, bad government and our community deserves better.

“There were multiple policy positions both before and after before the 2016 Election. On June 16, former Racing Minister Mick Gentleman announced full support for racing and funding. Between then and October 11, six variations of anti-industry policies were announced. The Chief Minister’s last publicly stated position before the election was that he would see funding for greyhound racing removed.

“While we will also oppose that decision on funding in the courts, it is clear there was no policy to ban racing on election day and therefore no mandate to do so.

“The secret backroom deal between Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury and the minority ACT Labor government, known as the Parliamentary Agreement, was hatched without any consultation. Once it became evident that the CGRC and local industry could be viable without funding, did the announcement of a ‘ban’ occur. 

“As of last month, there have been 15 policy positions in 15 months on the ACT greyhound racing industry. This is unfair, and has led to great stress and anxiety for all staff and participants. However, it has also helped unify us into a group that will support each other in delivering a future beyond June 30, 2018.

“The ACT industry and CGRC have engaged a strong and experienced legal team. We have an arguable case and are determined and unified. Not a single participant or staff member will entertain the prospect of even considering transition until legal options are exhausted.”